Learning Management Systems in the Classroom
In this era of great technological advancement, it is only expected that the field of education follows suit and evolves with the times. We now live in an age where remote learning has become part of the normal routines for schools and teachers need to be able to switch on a dime from in-person classrooms to online classrooms. Adapting to these inevitable situations has become a lot easier through digital learning management systems. Digital learning management systems allow teachers to create an online classroom environment where students and their families can experience a modified version of what would occur in the in-person classroom environment. Teachers have the ability to organize information clearly so that all students and their families can access content. Teachers can post slides, documents, and resources that are relevant to learning lessons. Teachers can easily utilize learning management systems to communicate with their students and their families. Learning management systems have so many more features that make it easy to facilitate a classroom even when the teacher and students are not in the same place.
One learning management system that we learned about this semester, and that I have personal experience with, is Google Classroom. This platform allows teachers to easily upload and organize content for their classes and works as a place where the teacher can store all resources for their students. I would like to utilize Google Classroom as a back-up classroom, meaning that whatever lesson and materials I use in my classroom, will also be posted to my Google Classroom. This ensures that all student always have access to the information and materials. This also allows students who are absent to have access to the content covered in class and the ability to know what their homework is in real time. I also like that Google Classroom can be utilized for grading assignments and that students and their parents can see their grades. The Google Classroom platform is also compatible with all other Google applications, so it makes sharing content and document very easy and stream-lined. By keeping up with posting current materials and resources each day, this allows for a smooth transition to remote learning if there is a need to do so.
Another learning management system that we learned about and that I have personal experience with as a parent, is Class Dojo. Class Dojo is a great platform that provides teachers with many ways to interact with students and their families. This platform allows parents to have direct contact with their child’s teacher through an app. Class Dojo also translates text for those who may not speak English, making it a lot easier for teachers to communicate with ELL and their families. Class Dojo is a lot of fun, especially for the younger grades, because each student is assigned a fun monster avatar. Through Class Dojo, students can earn points in the classroom and at home, which makes it a fun way to track positive behavior reinforcement. Teachers can post directly to a classroom feed that allows them to share pictures, announcements and important information with the parents of their students. I would like to utilize Class Dojo primarily as a tool for communicating with the families of my future students. I also like that it can be used as a sort of social media page for the classroom. If I am teaching younger grades, I think that Class Dojo will be a great tool for classroom behavior management.
Using a combination of digital learning management systems allows teachers to curate what they want their students’ learning experience to be outside of the in-person classroom. Since education needs to be continued within the homelife of the students, it is important that teachers provide as many resources and materials for home use as possible. Utilizing Google Classroom and Class Dojo will make it easier to reach all types of learners and their families, and ensures the educational journey of all students will be a positive experience.